Saturday, February 2, 2008

A heart tied in the middle of a piece of rope is the simple, arresting cover image for the Cowboy Junkies' AT THE END OF PATHS TAKEN, a perfect visual metaphor for this quasi-concept album about the ties that bind. Family relationships are at the heart of Michael Timmins's lyrics on this album, and their delivery by his sister, Margo Timmins, the Cowboy Junkies's always alluring vocalist, in her trademark half-audible murmur, adds an extra spin to the words on songs like "Cutting Board Blues" and "Brand New World." The band's familiar blend of Neil Young-style singer-songwriter rock, country twang and dark, Velvets-like minimalism is unchanged, although unexpected additions like a children's choir on the closing "My Only Guarantee" add intriguing new wrinkles to the album's sound.

It was the band's first album that could be described as straight-ahead rock, rather than country rock, country or blues. It was also their first album comprised entirely of original material, with no covers. "A Common Disaster" and "Speaking Confidentially" were notable hits for the band on Canadian radio. Like all their albums after The Trinity Session, however, it was only a modest success internationally.

The album also includes two versions of "Come Calling", which is presented in male and female versions representing two sides of a romantic relationship.

Stamey played bass with Alex Chilton in New York during 1977, and with Television guitarist Richard Lloyd recorded "(I Thought) You Wanted to Know" that year. A single of this song, backed with "If and When" (on which Rigby and Holder played), appeared in 1978, credited to Chris Stamey and the dB's. Holsapple joined the group in October 1978.

They released their first album, Stands for Decibels, in 1981, to critical acclaim but negligible sales. Their sound was a modernized version of earlier power pop, with precise arrangements and highly accomplished instrumental work. Stamey and Holsapple were the band's songwriters, and while Holsapple was skilled in the composing of fairly straightforward tunes such as "Big Brown Eyes" and "Bad Reputation," Stamey's songs, which include "Espionage" and "Tearjerkin'," tended to be somewhat more experimental. They released a second album in 1982, Repercussion, which built upon the strengths of the first album, and also released singles such as "Judy." These two albums, recorded on the British label Albion, have since been reissued on one compact disc.

Stamey left the group after the second album, and pursued a career as a solo artist and producer. The group then recorded a third album, Like This, released in 1984. The band had finally landed an American record deal, Bearsville, but distribution woes caused the album to be greatly delayed. Rick Wagner joined the band on bass, and Holder moved to lead guitar.

The final CD released while the dB's were together was The Sound of Music in 1987 with New Orleans bass player Jeff Beninato, founder of the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund. Again under Holsapple's direction, this is perhaps the band's most traditional pop album. Jeff Beninato participated in the subsequent tour. Gene Holder left the band to join the Individuals, and Eric Peterson was recruited on lead guitar after replacing temporary guitarist/keyboardist Harold Kelt. Holsapple ended up moving to Beninato's home town of New Orleans after living in Los Angeles toward the end of the band's career.

Two CDs were released after the dB's broke up. Ride the Wild Tom-Tom collected demos, early recordings and singles, and Paris Avenue was a posthumous album by the final lineup, based on demo tapes from the band's waning days. In 1991, Stamey and Holsapple reunited (not under the dB's moniker) as a duo to record an album entitled Mavericks.

Although the dB's enjoyed only a limited popularity, their recordings were held in high esteem by critics. Robert Christgau, reviewing their first album, said "This is pop at its tensest--the precise harmonies, broken rhythms, and Byrdsy zoom effects are drawn so tight they make the expertly rendered romantic ups and downs of the songs sound intense and earned." However, their later recordings were felt by some critics to compare poorly to their first three albums. Christgau again, on The Sound of Music: "Yeah, it rocks, but when a pop group leaves it at that they're no better than their latest song, and when their sole remaining songwriter is still dissecting serial monogamy as he says bye to thirty, chances are his latest song doesn't even interest him all that much."

Trouser Press, however, favorably reviewed the recordings with: "The Sound of Music finds the dB's continuing in the style of Like This, with similarly fine results. The country elements reappear on "Bonneville" (complete with fiddles and mandolins), "Never Before and Never Again" (a brilliant Holsapple duet with Syd Straw) and "Looked at the Sun Too Long," which could easily be mistaken for a Gram Parsons tune. There's still plenty of great pop, too, and the group gets heavy on "Any Old Thing." Trouser Press described their final album: "Paris Avenue is a belated first issue of demos for what would have been the band's fifth album.

Big Star is an American rock and roll band of the early 1970s. Critic Jason Ankeny describes Big Star as "the quintessential American power pop band [and] one of the most mythic and influential cult acts in all of rock & roll."

Initially co-led by Chris Bell and Alex Chilton in 1971, Big Star's music was lyrical, powerful, at times melancholy pop for the post-1960s generation. Their approach not only recalled the British Invasion groups, but also the spare, relaxed style of Stax Records as well as the edgy rockabilly of early Sun Records. In an era of singer-songwriters, jam bands, and heavy-metal groups, they played melodic, concisely written pop songs. Their reputation, negligible in 1974 beyond a small coterie of admirers, has steadily grown, and they are today considered one of pop's classic groups.

The Bangles included a cover of "September Gurls" on their 1985 album Different Light.This Mortal Coil recorded covers of "Holocaust" and "Kangaroo" on their album It'll End in Tears and Chris Bell's songs "I am the Cosmos" and "You and Your Sister" on the album Blood. Fellow 4AD artist His Name is Alive covers "Blue Moon" on their 1993 release, Mouth by Mouth. Singer/songwriter Jeff Buckley also performed a version of "Kangaroo" (seen on the posthumous album Mystery White Boy) at live concerts, though he and his band added a long "jam" at the end of the song.

Big Star was introduced to a new generation of fans when "In the Street" was selected as a representative song of the 1970s decade by the producers of the sitcomThat '70s Show, who used it for the show's theme song in 1998. In 1999, Cheap Trick recorded a new version of the song, renamed "That '70s Song," for the show. "That '70s Song" and the original Big Star version of "September Girls" were included in a 1999 album released by the television program's producers, That '70s Show Presents That '70s Album: Rockin'. Numerous other Big Star songs appear in various episodes of That '70s Show including "Thirteen" which is played during Donna's flashback in one of the final scenes of the series finale.

Elliott Smith and Garbage both covered "Thirteen". Placebo covered "Holocaust" recently on their special edition version of Sleeping with Ghosts. Son Volt also recorded a cover of "Holocaust" that appears on their "Son Volt - A Retrospective 1995-2000" CD. The Lemonheads perform a cover of "I'm In Love With A Girl" in their live sets (Auckland gig - 26 March).

Australian rock band You Am I recorded a version of "In The Street" as a b-side on their "Cathy's Clown" single. The band has also covered "September Gurls" during live shows. In addition to this, it is commonly believed that You Am I's "#4 Record" is a direct reference to Big Star's "#1 Record".

In 2003, the band Yo La Tengo released a cover of "Take Care" on their album entitled, "Summer Sun".

At Colin Meloy (of The Decemberists)'s August 21, 2005 solo show at the Beachcomber, he performed a cover of "Nighttime."

In 2006 the song "I'm In Love With A Girl" appeared in a Heineken television commercial.

Chilton and Stephens reunited in 1993 with Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow of the American pop band The Posies taking the place of Bell (who had died in a car crash in 1978) and Hummel (who had left music for an engineering career) at the University of Missouri. For an encore, the band performed Gene Chandler's "Duke of Earl," reflecting Chilton's marked, post-Big Star interest in early rock and roll.

The album was released in early 1988 on Latent Records in Canada, and rereleased worldwide later in the year on RCA Records. "Working on a Building" and "Blue Moon Revisited (Song for Elvis)" did not appear on the Latent Records release. "Blue Moon Revisited" was originally released on It Came from Canada, Vol. 4, a compilation of Canadian independent bands.

According to the band's website , the direction of The Trinity Sessions was influenced by the sounds they heard while touring the southern United States in support of Whites Off Earth Now!!. The lyrics and instrumentation of the album were lifted from the classic country groups the band was exposed to, and the song "200 More Miles" was written in reference to their life on the road.

As they had on Whites, the band wanted to record live with one stereo microphone direct to tape. Peter Moore was enlisted and suggested the Church of the Holy Trinity in Toronto for its natural reverb. To better persuade the officials of the historic church, the band claimed to be The Timmins Family Singers and said they were recording a Christmas special for radio. The session began on the morning of November 27, 1987. The group first recorded the the songs with the fewest instruments and then the songs with gradually more complex arrangements. In this way Moore and the band were able to solve acoustic problems one by one. To better balance Margo Timmins's vocals against the electric guitars and drums, she was recorded through a PA system that had been left behind by a previous group. By making subtle changes in volume and placement relative to the microphone over six hours, Moore and the band had finally reached the distinctive sound of the album by the time the last of the guest musicians arrived at the church.

The band was unable to rehearse with most of the guest musicians before the day of the session. Considering the method of recording, this could have been disastrous for the numbers which required seven or more musicians, but after paying a security guard twenty five dollars for an extra two hours, the band was able to finish, and even recorded "Misguided Angel" in a single take.

Contrary to popular myth, the album was not entirely recorded in one day. In the hustle of the first recording session, the band had forgotten to record "Mining for Gold". Margo and Moore recorded the song a few days later during the Toronto Symphony Orchestra's lunch break.

2004 solo release! Dom Mariani, DM3/The Someloves/The Stems, has just released a new solo album and, simply, it`s his strongest, most consistent effort yet. What does it sound like?Well,a classic DM3 sound, matured, evolved.(it`s not another surf-y album like his last solo release, btw...)It`s a is a soulful mix of pop and rock, touching on more personal themes while always staying true to the music and sounds Dom has created over the years.Recorded in Perth and the US his debut long player was mixed by longtime collaborator and producer Mitch Easter (REM, Let`s Active) at his Fidelitorium Studio in Kenersville, North Carolina.

Self produced and with the help of close musical friends Homespun Blues And Greens is the debut Dom Mariani long player fans have been waiting for. From the brass driven opener Homespun Blues, latin tinged pop of "Make the Leap", the rootsy slide of "Out of Reach", the catchy, power pop elegance of tracks like "Yuri", "Busride" and Cold Cup, Beatllesque stylings on "Prove" and more, and through to the albums haunting closer "When it Ends". It all sees an artist who through a 20 year career come full circle to create a debut of lasting impact. With a voice which has become more self assured and characteristic over the years, Dom Mariani`s progression from band leader to solo artist comes as only to further consolidate his position as one of Australia`s most enduring proponents of guitar pop.

General Comments : Initial pressing includes 3 cover versions - "Child Of The Moon" (The Rolling Stones), "I Will Dare" (The Replacements) and "Journey By Sledge" (The Visitors).

Kent Steedman, Dave Morris, Michael Couvret and Phillip Jacquet conceived the band in 1979 when they were still at high school. Singer Damien Lovelock joined in 1980. He was almost ten years their senior, but he gave the Rifles a much needed lyrical focus for the band's unremitting energy. Celibate Rifles issued the four-track EP, But Jacques the Fish independently in March 1982.

Hot Records signed the band and reissued the EP in March, 1983. James Darrock (bass; ex-Trans Love Energy, Fifth Estate, Slaughterhouse 5) replaced Couvret (who joined Mushroom Planet) and the band issued its debut album, Sideroxylon (May 1983). As the album came out, Steedman joined The New Christs when that band supported Iggy Pop on his June 1983 Australian tour. Steedman stayed with The New Christs until October, when his commitment to the Rifles beckoned. He appeared on The New Christs' "Born Out of Time" single. With the Rifles on hold, Lovelock formed an acoustic studio band with Louis Tillett (Wet Taxis) and Brett Myers (Died Pretty). No Dance issued the Carnival of Souls EP on Hot in March 1984.

The Rifles' singles "Pretty Pictures" / "Out in the West Again" (October 1983) and "Merry Xmas Blues" / "Summer Holiday Blues" (December) were departures for the band as they featured acoustic guitars instead of the all-out electric attack. Darrock left in January 1984 to form The Eastern Dark. He died in a car accident in March 1986. Couvret returned for the album The Celibate Rifles (May, 1984) and the singles "Wild Desire" / "I'm Waiting for the Man" (April, 1984) and "Sometimes" / "E=MC2" (November, 1984). The album was still rough-hewn but with more variation, style and power than the debut. Around that time, visiting American critic David Fricke from Rolling Stone was prompted to describe the Rifles as 'urban teen frenzy with lyricist Lovelock's adult fears erupting in a glowing atomic fireball of bazooka guitars and terminal volume'.

The band's only release for 1985 was "Six Days on the Road" / "Groupie Girl" (July, 1985). The Turgid Miasma of Existence came out in June, 1986. A limited edition EP featuring "Eddie", "Ice Blue" and "Thank You America" was given away with the first 500 copies of the album. The Rifles undertook an extensive tour of the USA, where their records had garnered much praise from the underground press. The band arranged and financed the tour independently. Issued in November 1986, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (recorded live at New York's legendary CBGB's bar, July 1986) captured the band's sound in all its blistering glory.

Couvret and Jacquet left the band in September, 1986 to be replaced by Rudy Morabito (bass; ex-Amused) and Paul Larsen (drums; ex-Funhouse, Gun Control). The band toured Europe and recorded Roman Beach Party in Holland during June, 1987. The album appeared in November. Morabito left in 1988 to be replaced by Jim Leone (ex-No Man's Land). By that stage, Couvret was playing with The Lime Spiders, and Jacquet had joined Voodoo Lust. The Rifles' last release on Hot Records to that time was a 12-inch EP featuring a cover of Patti Smith's "Dancing Barefoot" (May, 1988). The Rifles signed to True Tone and issued Blind Ear (April, 1989), which contained several of the band's best singles, the riff-happy "Johnny" / "El Salvador" (February, 1989), the rollicking "O Salvation!" / "Fish and Trees" (June, 1989) and the double 7-inch "Wonderful Life" / "5 Lamps"; "Where the Action Is", "She's So Fine" / "Hot Stuff" (March, 1990).

The band also contributed a cover of John Paul Young's "Where the Action Is" to the Various Artists album Used and Recovered By (1990).

Hot closed its Rifles account with the double retrospective set Platters du Jour (October, 1990), a selection of rare early singles and EP sides with a limited edition 7-inch EP containing three unreleased tracks. The band members undertook various extra-curricular activities between 1988 and 1990. Lovelock had already written and produced a one-off single in 1984, "Summertime (All Round the World)" / "Sunnyboyfriend", for Australian world female surfing champion Pam Burridge (issued under the name of Pam and the Pashions during October, 1984). In June, 1988 he issued his debut solo album It's a Wig Wig Wig Wig World followed by the single "Disco Inferno"/"Sisters" (April, 1990).

Lovelock's studio band included Peter Koppes (guitar; from The Church), Rick Grossman (bass; from Hoodoo Gurus), Joe Latty (guitar; ex-Itchy Rat) and Richard Ploog (drums; from The Church). Guitarist Reeves Gabrels, from David Bowie's band Tin Machine, also appeared on "Disco Inferno". Lovelock formed a touring line-up of Damien Lovelock's Wigworld which comprised Joe Latty, Clyde Bramley (bass; ex-Hoodoo Gurus), Patrick Polnov (guitar) and Hamish Stuart (drums). During 1991, Lovelock issued the single "The Dalai Lama" (October, 1991) and album Fishgrass (December, 1991) on Festival Records.

Steedman formed Crent with Chris Townsend (from Kiss My Poodles Donkey). Crent issued the singles "A.I.D.S." and "9K.?" plus the mini-album Crent on Waterfront. Crent's music was more in the bayou/boogie tradition of John Lee Hooker fleshed out by Steedman's bursts of Frank Zappaesque wah wah guitar. Crent issued a second album, Pink Album, on the Shagpile label (through Shock) at the end of 1993. Steedman also guested on bass with Ed Kuepper's band The Aints, playing on the live album S.L.S.Q. Jim Leone and Paul Larsen joined Roddy Rayda and The Surfin' Caesars for the album Orgazmatazz.

In October 1990, Larsen left The Rifles to join The Screaming Tribesmen. Nik Rieth took Larsen's place. At the end of 1991, the Rifles signed to Festival. They issued the double album Heaven on a Stick (March, 1992), the single "Groovin' in the Land of Love" (December, 1991) plus the double 7-inch single "Where the Wild Things Are..." (March, 1992). The Rifles shared "Where the Wild Things Are..." with The Hard-Ons to coincide with a joint Australian tour the two bands undertook mid-year. The Rifles' tracks were "5 Lamps" and "Electric Flowers". Straight after that, The Rifles embarked on the Live Stick '92 world tour which took in dates across the UK, Europe and the USA. Festival issued a second, double 7-inch single from Heaven on a Stick, "Cold Wind", in May 1992.

1992 ended for the Rifles with Hot issuing re-mastered CD versions of the band's first five albums. The Rifles returned to Hot For Yizgarnnoff (a second live album) and SOFA (a 20-track `Best of' compilation) which came out in May and December 1993 respectively. In late 1993, Steedman and Rieth joined Deniz Tek to record his Outside album. Steedman and Rieth toured extensively with The Deniz Tek Group over the next few years and recorded a new album in 1996, Le Bonne Route. Spaceman in a Satin Suit (May, 1994) was arguably The Celibate Rifles' best studio album since Blind Ear. The band also contributed a cover of The Sports' "Boys! (What Did the Detective Say?)" to the various artists project Earth Music. "Boys! (What Did the Detective Say?)" appeared on the Earth Music CD EP (August, 1994) along with Died Pretty covering Laughing Clowns' "Eternally Yours" and Painters and Dockers doing Mental as Anything's "The Nips Are Getting Bigger".

1.What I Like About You - The Romantics 2.Baby It's You - Phil Seymour 3.Hold On To Something - Great Buildings 4.Tell That Girl To Shut Up - Holly & The Italians 5.Million Miles Away, A - The Plimsouls 6.She Goes Out With Everybody - The SpongeTones 7.Whenever You're On My Mind - Marshall Crenshaw 8.I Want You Back - Hoodoo Gurus 9.Every Word Means No - Let's Active 10.Crybaby - Utopia 11.Going Down To Liverpool - The Bangles 12.Love Is For Lovers - The dB's 13.Whatever Happened To Fun... - Candy 14.Places That Are Gone - Tommy Keene 15.Behind The Wall Of Sleep - The Smithereens 16.Lisa Anne - BIll Lloyd 17.She's So Young - The Pursuit Of Happiness 18.There She Goes - The La's

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I Could Fill A Room With Empty Pockets

I'm a child of the 60's had my first guitar by 8. Spent the 80's playing in indie bands in Brisbane and Sydney Australia. An innovative and challenging time for Australian music, "It's coming of age". Time passes and the smoke haze and stale smell of beer has faded... I now work as a teacher in Thailand, still have my guitar, still love music. Peace & Love